The title chase for the Rio Hondo League has been a two-team race in recent seasons, and that’s not expected to change this fall.

It will again come down to Monrovia, which has won the league the previous six seasons, and San Marino, which has finished second each of the past three.

It may be time for a flip-flop. The Titans have the look of a team capable of ending the Wildcats’ recent reign. They’re armed by the return of three key offensive skilled position players, while Monrovia must replace its top two performers and welcome a new coach as Chris Stevens has replaced Ryan Maddox.

XTRA XTRA!

Look for the Prep Xtra keepsake magazine in your print edition of the paper on Friday, Aug. 29, 2014.

San Marino, like Monrovia, is replacing a highly-productive quarterback, but junior Carson Glazier managed to throw for nearly 700 yards while spelling Andrew Ferraco last season. Monrovia’s Asaph Zamora, who is set to replace Deshawn Potts, has looked good in the summer passing circuit and will have some speedsters to throw to, including receivers Octavius Spencer and Kahlil Bradley,

“We should be strong with our offensive skill personnel,” San Marino coach Mike Hobbie said. “To win the league, our inexperience has to develop and rise to a much higher level in a relative short time span. We obviously have some offensive weapons, but they must have the supporting players to allow us to feature them.”

The battle for third and the league’s final playoff spot will again be a three-team race between La Canada, which took the spot last season; Temple City and South Pasadena. La Canada and Temple City had new coaches in Ramsey Lambert and Rob Castaneda, respectively..

Blair also has a new coach, Rickey Pickens, who is expecting his team to be improved.

Bottom line: The Wildcats may have lost their top-two players to graduation, but there’s still a lot of talent in the locker room. If they can fill some of those holes early, there’s no reason this team can’t win another league title and compete in the Southeast Division.

Bottom line: Another coaching change at Blair can’t help the Vikings. But Pickens believes being there since May can smooth the transition.

IMPACT PLAYERS

Kahlil Bradley, Monrovia, WR, Sr.

Bradley turned some heads at college training camps and he’s looked really good in summer passing leagues. He’s the key to Monrovia’s up-tempo passing game.

Tyler Spitzer, San Marino, DB, Sr.

Spitzer is a competitor on offense and defense. He was first team All-Area on defense last season, with a league-high seven interceptions. He can also turn a game on special teams as one of the area’s top returners.